Reading Dangerously: Censorship and the Freedom to Read in 20th-Century America
How has censorship affected U.S. society over the course of the 20th century? Drawing from The New York Public Library's collections, this curriculum guide is intended to be paired with Banned: Censorship and the Freedom to Read, an online exhibition exploring the history and broad impact of censorship. It is designed to help teachers support middle and high schoolers in exploring the history of censorship and resistance to gain new insights on current events. Presented by NYPL's Center for Educators & Schools.
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Download the Complete Curriculum Guide
Grades 6–12
The curriculum guide is divided into four modular units designed for students in grades 6–12. Each thematic unit is made up of case studies that explore a particular topic, title, or time. All case studies contain a historical context essay with key background information, primary sources featured in the online exhibition, and model questions and activities for guided discovery and discussion.
All across the United States, students, teachers, librarians, and parents are finding themselves at the center of contentious debates over what books and topics can be accessed in libraries and schools. Though these campaigns have reached unprecedented heights in recent years, the United States has had a long history of battles over censorship, intellectual freedom, and the freedom to read.
Explore the Exhibition | ‘Banned: Censorship and the Freedom to Read’
Dive into the materials presented in the curriculum guide through the accompanying online exhibition. These items document key moments in the history of censorship and the fight for intellectual and other freedoms in the United States and around the world.
Explore Multilingual Resources for the Curriculum
Use the Library's Resources in Your Lessons
This curriculum guide draws from materials in our research collections, including primary source documents accessible on our online databases and within the NYPL Digital Collections. Please note: some of the resources below are only accessible with a New York Public Library card.
NYPL Digital Collections
Search the accompanying Image ID on the primary sources presented in this guide to access them online.
Scholastic Teachables
Access a broad range of resources for every subject, including lesson plans, mini-books, and activity sheets.
Teach with NYPL's Primary Sources: All Curriculum Guides
Discover curricular materials inspired by our archival collections that you can easily integrate into your teaching. Stay tuned for more curriculum guides that highlight the Library’s collections and their connections to the classroom.
Protect the Freedom to Read at NYPL
Stand with The New York Public Library all year long to protect the freedom to read! Discover all the Library has to offer, including our Teen Banned Book Club, programs and events, a free toolkit for you and your community, ways to get involved, and more for all ages.
Explore the Center for Educators & Schools
The New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools is devoted to making all of the Library’s resources accessible and useful for educators. You’ll find programs and services tailored for the educator community, such as book lists, credit-bearing workshops, special access to exhibitions, tips on teaching with primary source materials from our vast research collections, and much more.
